200 Hours Required to Agree on G20 Leaders' Final Declaration

The Indian G20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant, has stated that the consensus on the joint leaders' declaration at the summit in New Delhi required approximately 200 hours of negotiations. He noted that disagreements on points related to Ukraine were discussed over nine months, as reported by Kommersant.

“No one really expected that we would come to a consensus. We went from the first draft to the second... and then to the third. After that, I think bilateral meetings with each country helped. It was important for each country to draw its red lines,” Kant said in an interview with NDTV.

The diplomat added that negotiations were conducted on various drafts of the declaration with Russia and China, as well as following meetings with representatives from the G7. The final draft of the document was completed only on September 9.

In the final declaration, G20 leaders supported achieving a “comprehensive,” “just,” and “sustainable” peace in Ukraine. The text discusses the negative consequences of military operations on global, food, and energy security. It also reiterates the commitment to adhere to the UN Charter and respect territorial integrity.

Notably, the document does not condemn Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, a point that was present in the G20 communique from the 2022 summit. At the same time, the declaration mentions the existence of “other opinions” regarding this issue.

The declaration also expresses concern about the repercussions of wars and conflicts around the world. It called on leaders to ensure the full implementation of the grain deal and achieve the unrestricted export of food and fertilizers from Russia and Ukraine.

In this regard, the declaration commends Turkey’s efforts and the Istanbul agreements signed with UN support, and calls for their full, timely, and effective implementation to guarantee the immediate and unhindered supply of grain and food from both Russia and Ukraine.

Earlier reports indicated that the eighteenth summit of G20 leaders, taking place this year in the Indian capital, New Delhi, commenced with an official welcoming ceremony.